To find colleges that are a good fit, you need to learn about the
factors that can influence your experience in and out of the
classroom. Develop your personal list of college search criteria
to find the best colleges for you.

A better search strategy will give you better results! Whether
you want information about colleges you think are a good fit, or
you want to find new colleges that are right for you, we have the
tips to get you started and the tools to finish the job

To find colleges that are a good fit, you need to learn about the factors that can influence your experience in and out of the classroom. Develop your personal list of college search criteria to find the best colleges for you.

A better search strategy will give you better results! Whether you want information about colleges you think are a good fit, or you want to find new colleges that are right for you, we have the tips to get you started and the tools to finish the job.

Expert
Advice

When you apply to college, planning and attention to detail really matter! Check out our advice on getting organized, how to make your college applications stand out, and what to do when decisions arrive.

When you apply to college, planning and attention to detail really matter! Check out our advice on getting organized, how to make your college applications stand out, and what to do when decisions arrive.

Salman - Florida Gulf Coast University - Class of 2019

Even though I met my dream school's admission requirements, I knew that didn't guarantee admission. So I needed more options.

I wanted to experience college like in the movies—going to frat parties, having fun with friends, and becoming an educated person. I also wanted to get away from Miami and maybe even experience four seasons. But since my main concern was cost of attendance, I thought I should look at only in-state public schools with lower tuition.

Hometown: Miami, FL

High School: Public

GPA: 2.6/3.9 (weighted)

SAT: 1350

Major: Civil engineering

Goal: Stay focused on my major and enjoy college

College

Status

Florida Gulf Coast University

Attending

Northern Michigan University

Accepted

South Dakota State

Accepted

University of West Florida

Accepted

University of Wisconsin

Deferred

University of Wyoming

Deferred

Utah State

Waitlisted

Youngstown State

Accepted

Freshman Year Update

Socially, I'm having the time of my life at FGCU. I've never met such great friends, and staying up late and hanging out with them is the best. I feel like they have opened me up to a different world.

But academically, the transition to college has been difficult. First semester, I didn't do too well in my classes and the workload really drained me. I spent a lot of time in tutoring, trying new organizational skills and study habits, and going to office hours. I'm doing better second semester, but my GPA is still low, and I might lose my financial aid.

One exciting change for me, however, is that I no longer want to study civil engineering. After taking my first geology class, and loving it, I want to become an exploration geologist, which combines my interests in science and travel. The only problem is that FCGU doesn't have this major, so I will eventually need to transfer.

Sophomore Year Update

As I expected, I lost my financial aid. To cover my expenses, I moved off campus with my friends and got a job. Working and going to school was a real struggle: living with my friends was distracting as there was always something fun going on, and my mom and siblings needed me more at home. I decided I needed a break.

Now I've left FGCU and have moved back home. Next semester, I'm moving with my family to Gainesville, where I've been accepted to a two-year college that helps students transfer to the University of Florida. I plan to bring up my grades and transfer to UF to study geology. I think living at home will allow me to focus on school and help out my mom and siblings at the same time. Even though it was a roller coaster, I'm glad I had the experience of attending FGCU. I've had my fun living away. Now I want to focus on what's next.

Looking for an affordable college

Because my grades and test scores were just average, many of the popular in-state universities, like University of Florida and Florida State, were reaches. My chances of admission were best at Florida Gulf Coast University. I had toured the school with one of my friends and really liked it. It offered my major (civil engineering), was known as "Dunk City" for its championship basketball team, and even had its own beach! Plus, three of my best friends were planning to go there. But even though I met FGCU's admission requirements, I knew that didn't guarantee admission. So I needed more options.

On COLLEGEdata, I was able to find universities with cost of attendance similar to an in-state school where I had a good chance of being admitted. After researching these schools further, I ended up with eight colleges on my list—six of them out-of-state.

Financial aid from afar

My first acceptance came from Northern Michigan University—with a sizable scholarship for four years! The thought of attending NMU was exciting. It would be a big change for me—of people, of weather, of everyday life. But NMU didn't offer civil engineering. (I would have to major in construction management). Since I couldn't visit, I talked to an NMU student (also from Miami) in the construction management program, and he had only good things to say about it. After talking to a professor and looking at videos online, I decided to go to NMU. It had everything a student could want.

A few weeks later, while I was in the car with my mom, I got the acceptance email from FGCU. I was so excited, I couldn't stay in my seat! I shouted the good news to my mom. She congratulated me and told me to calm down since I was almost standing in the car! Now that I knew it was possible, I wanted to go to FGCU. But NMU had offered me a larger financial aid package.

So I looked at both aid offers side by side. When I factored in the additional costs of living so far from home (including the cost to fly from Michigan to Miami a few times a year), FGCU wasn't really that much more expensive. And when I considered that FGCU had my major, that my friends were going there, and that I loved the school, it was easy to forgo the additional aid. I was going to attend my dream school!

My ups and downs

For a while, I had second thoughts about my decision. Going to college out of state would have been an amazing experience. I felt better after I learned more about FGCU and its various activities and programs, and remembered the things I liked about it when I toured—like the friendly people and the interactive math classes, where students stood at white boards solving problems in groups. Plus, being the first child in my family to go to college, I felt better being closer to my mom and my four younger siblings. I didn't want them to worry about me.

What I learned

I had to figure out college admissions on my own. My mom came to the U.S. from Pakistan and didn't attend college, so I couldn't ask her anything college-related. As a result, I became more mature and better at communicating and following through with tasks. Now I feel ready to attend college.

The money factor

Financial aid and scholarships will cover the majority of my costs. A work-study job will pay for my other expenses. I might need to take out a loan to cover my housing costs, depending on the scholarships I receive.

My advice

I had an amazing advisor at my school. But the Internet, college websites, my teachers, and my friends also helped me during the process. Don't be afraid to use all the resources you have.